88 
on finding we had all escaped, and set out 
about seven in the morning, in company 
with our guides. 
We soon arrived at the bank of a small 
river, which, being perfectly dry, we crossed 
without difficulty. Shortly after we came 
to another, which we likewise passed in a 
few minutes. We reached at length some 
highlands, from the tops of which we dis- 
covered several beautiful vales clothed with 
long dry grass, small clusters of trees, and 
in other places forests of considerable ex- 
tent, skirting mountains of different eleva- 
tions. 
In the course of the day, we were in 
great distress for want of water, and lost 
much time in the pursuit of it. Indeed 
we almost despaired of finding any, as the 
earth appeared so dry as to exhaust all 
the brooks we had visited. Luckily, how- 
ever, about sun-set, we discovered a small 
rivulet that ran near the skirt of a forest ; 
and although the water was not good, 
yet still it relieved us from a dreadful 
situation. 
We had this day travelled about thirty 
miles, and therefore determined to remain 
